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Saints Seal Deal For Clyne

Southampton have confirmed that they have signed Crystal Palace defender on a four year deal.

The 21-year-old full-back flew out to finalise the deal at Saints’ training base in France.

Clyne was out of contract at Selhurst Park but the Saints will still be required to pay Palace a compensation fee as he is under 24 years-old. If the two Clubs fail to reach an agreement the fee will be decided by a tribunal.

“I’m overwhelmed, really,” Clyne told Southampton’s Club website.

“As soon as I heard that Southampton were in for me I was happy and I knew that this was the place where I could try to improve my football and get a chance to play in the Barclays Premier League.”

“It’s a club with a lot of ambition – the gaffer told me that they wanted to be pushing for European football.”

Clyne has been capped by England at youth and U21 levels and was named in last year’s Championship Team of the Year voted for by his peers.

He made over 120 appearances for the Club after coming through their Apprenticeship programme.

In 2010 he turned down then Premier League outfit Wolves and Southampton are pleased to get their man.

“For the last three years, Nathaniel has been a very attack-minded full-back who bombs on – he’s got pace and is a good one-on-one defender,” said, Saints Boss Nigel Adkins.

“He got into the Championship Team of the year last year and for such a young age he has had a lot of first-team football. All being well, we can push him on to the next level now.”